Staking apparatus



Nov. 8, 1960 G. J. NovAK STAKING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1958 j /A/Vf/vroe M/VOI/ 57 AQ 0.0 )www rroe/yn Nov. s, 1960 G. J. NQVAK 2,959,076

STAKING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 8, 1960 G. J. NovAK 2,959,076

STAKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 195s s sheets-sheet s tates *atet 2,959,076 Patented Nov. 8, 1960- STAKING APPARATUS George J. Novak, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. s, 195s, ser. No. 778,364

' 2 Claims. (c1. 7s1) This invention relates to staking apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for interconnecting members in a pivotal relationship by staking pivot pins to permanently secure the pivot pins to one ofthe members.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide new and improved staking apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide a staking apparatus which will support articles and pivot pins therefor in .assembled relationship prior to a staking operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a staking apparatus, the actuating means for which is conditioned for operation by movement of a work support into the staking position and subsequently operated by actuation of a clamp which secures the articles within the work support.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the present invention is specifically directed to an apparatus for simultaneously staking a plurality of pins between a pair of spaced plates having apertures therein for receiving opposite ends ofthe pins.v One such apparatus includes a base, a slide having a central portion on which an assembly of the plates and pins is placed and having extremities projecting outward beyond the assembly on opposite sides thereof, the slide being mounted on the base for horizontal movement thereon from a loading position to lan operating position. A pair of clamping bars are mounted on the extremities of the slide for movement toward and away from the workpiece assembly, and means are provided for moving the clamping bars into the spaces-between the plates of the workpiece assembly and into clamping positions where they clamp portions of the plates to portions of the extremities of said slide. A lower clamping block is provided, which is secured to the base and is designed to stop movement of the slide to define the operating position thereof. An upper clamping block is mounted above the lower clamping'block and is normally spaced therefrom so that portions of the plates may be inserted between the blocks. Means are provided for lowering the upper clamping block so that theplates of the workpiece `assembly are clamped between said clamping blocks. A plurality of staking pins are received slidably within apertures in the blocks one above and one below each of the pins in the workpiece assembly, andmeans are provided for biasing the staking pins to retracted positions clear ofthe workpiece to permit insertion thereof between the blocks. In addition, means are provided fordriving the staking pins from the retracted. positions into staking engagement with the workpiece pins, together with control means permitting operation of the-driving means only after theY slide has been Ymoved to the operating position andthe upper clamping block hasv been lowered into the clamping position.`.A v Y OtherV objects, advantages and novel aspects of the iuof the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the principal features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrates a slide mounting arrangement for a movable work support;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the relationship between the slidable work support and a pair of opposed staking members as well as an actuating mechanism for egecting movement of the staking members;

Fig. 4 is a `fragmentary top plan view and illustrates the manner in which a work piece is clamped in the slidable work support;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 and illustrates the positions of the slidable work support and the staking members -at the moment of completion of a staking operation;

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the air and electrical systems which comprise the actuating means for the staking members; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a work piece which has been assembled through the use of the apparatus of the present invention.

The work piece (Fig. 7) to be assembled by the apparatus of the present invention comprises upper and lower frame plates 10 and 11, respectively. Positioned between these lframe plates are L-shaped armatures 12 which mount rollers 13 at the extremities of the short arms thereof. The armatures are provided with apertures at the intersections of the long and short legs and pivot pins 14 are positioned within these apertures as well as within corresponding apertures formed in the frame plates 10 and 11. The present invention has been designed to stake the pivot pins 14 within the apertures formed inthe plates 10 and 11 to form the assembly designated generally by the reference numeral 15. The pivot pins are thus held stationary while the armatures 12 may be pivoted on the pins 14.

Attention now is directed to Figs. 1-5 wherein is disclosed the apparatus of the present invention. A base 16 is provided 4for the apparatus and has a slide support 17 secured thereto. A work support slide 18 is mounted on top of the support 17 and has a T-shaped projection 19 (Fig. 2) depending therefrom. The T-shaped projection 19 fits within a T-shaped recess 20 formed in the top of the support 17 and is guided thereby to confine movements of the work slide 18 to reciprocatory motion.

Each extremity of the work slide 18 is provided with a reciprocably mounted clamping bracket 22 which is adapted to be moved toward and away from the center of the work slide 18. The brackets 22 each pivotally mount a clamping bar 23 by means of pivot pins 24. Each bracket 22 also mounts a pivotal clamping handle 25. Each of the handles 25 is provided with a camming portion 26 which is adapted `to cause the clamping bars 23 to pivot about the pins 24 upon movement of the clamping handles 25. Each of the brackets 22 is also provided with a compression spring 27 which serves to hold the clamping bar 23 irmly against the camming portion 26.

A rearward extremity of the support 17 is provided 'with an enlarged portion or block 28 (Fig. 3) having counterbored apertures 29 formed therein. The apertures 29 are provided with bushings 30 which are adapted to guide reduced portions 3-1 of lower staking pins 32.

vention will-become 'readily apparent/upon consideration Compression springs 33 are interposed between lthe bushings 30 and the enlarged portions of the pins 32 and normally urge the pins 32 in a downward direction.

The portion 28 is further provided with an enlarged aperture 35 (Fig. 2) within which is positioned a clamp-Y ing rod 36. An upper clamping block 37 is secured to the rod 36 by means of a key 38. A compression spring 39 is positioned within a recess 40 formed in the block 37 and bears against the upper surface of the enlarged portion 28 to normally urge the block 37 upwardly.

The lower extremity of the rod 36 is provided with an enlarged shoulder v42. The shoulder 42 is adapted to engage a cam surface 43 formed in a cam 44 which is pivotally secured to the underside of the support 17 by means of a pivot pin 45. A lever 46 is secured to the cam 44 so that the cam 44 may be rotated by moving the lever 46 to engage the cam surface 43 with the shoulder 42.

The upper clamping block 37 is provided with counterbored recesses 48 within which are positioned bushings 49. The bushings 49 are adapted to guide reduced portions 50 of upper staking pins 51. Compression springs 52 are interposed between the bushings 50` and the upper staking pins 41 and normally urge pins 51 upwardly.

Two pairs of supporting plates 54 are secured to the base 16 by means of brackets 55 (Fig. 3). An upper actuator arm 56 and a lower actuator arm 57 are posit-ioned between each pair of plates 54. The arms 56 and 57 are pivotally mounted to the plates 54 by means of pivot pins 59 and 60, respectively.

The rearward extremities of the actuator arms 56 and 57 are provided with rollers 61 which are adapted to engage cams 62 carried by piston rods 63 of air cylinders 64. A compression spring 66 interconnects each pair of arms 56 and 57 and serves Vto hold the rollers 61 in engagement with the cams 62. The forward extremities of the arms 56 and 57 each mount threaded contact members 67 which are adapted to engage and move the staking pins 32 and 51 upon movement of the arms 56 and 57 due to the action of the cam 62. The contact members 67 are made adjustable so that the stroke of the staking pins 32 and 51 may be regulated.

Operation In order that a better understanding of the invention may be had, the mode of operation will now be described. The slide 18 is rst retracted (down in Fig. l) to its rearmost position and the brackets 22 are slid to the outer extremities of the slide 18. The yassembly 15 is then placed on top of the slide 18 as shown in Fig. 4. The brackets 22 are then moved inwardly toward the assembly 15 until the extremities of the clamping bars 23 are positioned between the plates and 11. The handles 25 are then swung toward the center of the slide 18 to cam the clamping members 23 against the ends of the assembly and lock the assembly 15 in position. The apparatus is then in the position shown in Fig. 4 except that the slide 18 is `still in the retracted position.

The slide 18 is then advanced to the position shown in Fig. l. In this position, an actuator screw 69 engages and closes a conditioning switch 70. The lever 46 is then moved in a clockwise direction (Fig. l) to engage the cam surface 43 with the shoulder 42 and thus depress the clamping rod 36 and clamping block 37 against the urging of the compression spring 39. This clamps the assembly 15, which overhangs the inner end of the slide 18, rmly between the enlarged portion 28 and the clamping block 37. As the lever 46 nears the end of its stroke, a pin 71 carried thereby engages and closes a staking switch 72. Closure of the switch 72 completes a circuit from a source of electrical energy 73 (Fig. 6) through the switch 72, a line 74, the switch 70 and a line 75 to a solenoid 76 of a double acting valve 77. This operates the valve 77 and permits compressed air to ow from an air supply 79 through the valve 77, into a manifold 80 and then into the cylinders 64. The air at this time is being applied to the tops of the cylinders 64 (as viewed in Fig. l) and thus causes the piston rods 63 to move downward.

This movement of the piston rods 63 forces the cams 62 between the rollers 61 and thus causes the arms 56 and 57 to pivot about the pins 59 and 60 against the urging of the spring 66. This pivotal movement of the arms 56 and 57 causes the contactors 67 to engage the staking pins 32 and 51 to push them into engagement with the pivot pins 1'4 (Fig. 5). As the piston rods 63 complete their stroke, the pointed tips of the staking pins 32 and 51 are -forced into extremities of the pivot pins 14, thereby displacing the metal forming the extremities or the pins 14 and thus staking the pins 14 to the plates 10 and 11.

After the staking operations have been completed, the lever 46 is returned to the position shown in Fig. l, at which time the pin 71 opens staking switch 72 and then closes a retracting switch 82. Closure of the switch 82 completes a circuit from the source of electrical potential 73 through the switch 82 and a Iline 83 to a second solenoid 84 of the valve 77. With the solenoid 84 actuated, air is applied from the air supply 79` in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrowheads in the drawing `and into a manifold 85 from which it is applied to the lower ends of the cylinders 64. At the same time, the upper ends of the cylinders 64 are vented to the atmosphere. This application of air causes the pistons to move upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, and thus retract the piston rods 63 and the cams 62 from between the rollers 61. As the contactors 67 are retracted by movement of the arms 56 and 57, the compression springs 33l and 52 cause the staking pins 32 and 51 to be retracted from contact with the staked pivot pins 14.

After the cams 62 and staking pins 32 and 51 have been retracted, the slide 18 is then moved backward until it is no longer between the staking members. The clamping handles 25 are then moved outwardly to release the clamping bars 23 and the clamping brackets are then slid outwardly to withdraw the clamping bars 23 from between the plates 10 and 11. The completed assembly 15 may then be removed from the slide 18 and the above operation repeated.

`It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for simultaneously staking a plurality of pins between a pair of spaced plates having apertures therein for receiving opposite ends of the pins, which comprises a base, a slide having a central portion on which an assembly of the plates and pins is placed and having extremities projecting outward beyond the assembly on opposite sides thereof, said slide being mounted on said base for horizontal movement thereon from a loading position to an operating position, a pair of clamping bars mounted on the extremities of said slide for movement toward and away from the workpiece assembly, means for moving said clamping bars into the spaces between the plates of the workpiece assembly and into clamping positions where they clamp portions of the plates to portions of the extremities of said slide, a lower clamping block secured to said base and designed to stop movement of said slide and define the operating position thereof, an upper clamping block mounted above said lower clamping block and normally spaced therefrom so that portions of the plates may be inserted between said blocks, means for lowering said upper clamping block so that the plates of the workpiece assembly are clamped between said clamping blocks, a plurality of staking pins received slidably within apertures in said blocks one above and one below each of the pins in the workpiece assembly, means for biasing said staking pins to retracted positions clear of `the workpiece to permit insertion thereof between said blocks, means .for driving said staking pins from the retracted positions into staking engagement with the workpiece pins, and control means permitting operation of said driving means only after said slide has been moved to the operating position and said upper clamping block has been lowered into the clamping position.

2. Apparatus for simultaneously staking a plurality of pins between a pair of spaced plates having apertures therein for receiving opposite ends of the pins, which comprises a xed horizontal support member, a work support slide mounted on said support member for constrained horizontal movement thereon from a retracted loading position, to a forward operating position, said slide having a flat central portion on which an assembly of the plates and pins is placed so that the plates overhang a front edge of the central portion, said slide further having extremities projecting outward beyond the assembly on opposite Sides thereof and forward into alignment with the overhanging portions of the plates, a pair of clamping brackets mounted slidably on the eX- tremities of said slide for movement toward and away from the workpiece assembly, a pair of clamping bars mounted pivotally on said brackets and movable with said brackets to positions where they are inserted between the overhanging plates of the workpiece assembly, means for pivoting said clamping bars with respect to said brackets so as to clamp portions of the plates to portions of the extremities of said slide, a lower clamping block formed at the front end of said support and designed to stop forward movement of said slide and define the operating position thereof, a rst switch actuated by movement of said slide into the operating position, an upper clamping block, means for mounting said upper clamping block resiliently above said lower clamping block so that a space is defined between said blocks into which portions of the plates are inserted upon movement of said slide to the operating position, means for lowering said upper clamping block so that portions thereof engage portions of said lower clamping block, said clamping blocks being so constructed and arranged that other portions thereof clamp the plates of the workpiece assembly therebetween, a second switch actuated by movement of said upper clamping block into the clamping position, a plurality of staking pins received slidably within apertures in said blocks one above and one below each of the pins in the workpiece assembly, means for biasing said staking pins to retracted positions clear of the workpiece to permit insertion thereof between said blocks, means for driving said staking pins from the retracted positions into staking engagement with the workpiece pins, and control means permitting operation of said driving means only after the actuation of said irst and second switches.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,334 Davis Dec. 19, 1911 1,493,155 Hummel May 6, 1924 1,582,217 Henry Apr. 27, 1926 1,707,006 Hanna Mar. 26, 1929 2,559,369 Phillips July 3, 1951 2,839,954 Doering et al. June 24, 1958 2,871,734 Fuchs 4et al. Feb, 3, 1959 

